Block-signal system.



No. 799,807. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905. H. N. SPORBORG. BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-24, 1902.

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PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY N. SPORBORG, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEVV YORK.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 24, 1902. Serial No. 104,442.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRYN. SPORBORG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of roads on which the trafiic is continuous in one direction over any given track.

My invention consists of an electricallyoperated signal controlled by track levers'witches operated by the wheels of the car or by other suitable operating mechanism as the car enters or leaves a block or section which it is desired to protect. Each of the said track lever-switches is located between the sections or blocks and when actuated opens a normally closed relay-circuit, which in turn acts upon the main signal-controlling circuits to throw the signal of the section which that car is about to enter to its danger position, and the signal of the section which that car is leaving to its clear position. In this systerm the track-rails are not used as part of the electrical circuits.

My invention is especially useful on electric railways, such as the modern high-speed interurbanroads. The system does not interfere with the operation of cars 01' trains against trafiic, but does not protect these trains when so operated.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the signal-operating devices and the connections thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one form of track lever-switch. Fig. ,3 isa similar view of a modified form of track leverswitch, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement of the switch for maintaining the relay-circuit open.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A and A represent the track lever-switches located along the track R, the distance between A and A representing one block or section of the road on which but a single car or train is allowed at any one time. The signal or semaphore represented by C may be placed beside the track a short distance in advance of the track leverswitch A. The signal is maintained normally in its clear position by means of the solenoid S, energized by the battery or other source of electrical power B. Included in the circuit through the battery B and the solenoid S is, the armature 0 of a relay R, the coil of which is normally energized by the battery B or other source of power. The coil of the relay R is in circuit with the track lever-switch A and also with a switch t', which is operated by the movement of the rod d, connected to the signal C by means of the arm a When the solenoid S becomes deenergized, the signal C drops to its danger position by gravity, thereby raising the rod (Z, and with it the arm 6, to which is attachedone end of the link f, the lower end of which is connected with the switch lever-arm g, pivoted at a fixed point it. The relay R is controlled by the track lever-switch A and operates to normally maintain the switch 6 open. The'switch 't operates to close the circuit through the 're-' operates the track lever-switch A, thereby momentarily opening the normally closed j 80 R (relay shown dotted,)conn ected with the circuit through the conductor 1, coil of relay signal of the blockor section which the car' is just leaving, conductor 2, battery B,'relay R, conductors 3 and 4. switchz', conductor5, and switch m of track lever-switch A. The relay B, being thus dee'n'ergized, drops ture 0. The signal C then drops to its danger position and raises the rod 01, thereby opening the auxiliary switch 71, which. maintains the circuit through the coil of relay R open and the signal at danger after the track lever-switch A has closed until the car reaches the end of the section or block and actuates the track lever-switch A. The operation of the track lever-switch A opens the normally closed circuit through conductor 1, coil of relay R conductor 2, battery B, coil of relay R, (relay shown dotted,) conductor 3, switch 2', (shown dotted,) said battery B, relay R, and switch 2' being located at the signal belonging to the section which the car enters on leaving the track lever-switch A. The relay R is thus deenergized and the switch It allowed to close, thereby closing the circuit through the coil of relay R, which in turn closes the circuit through the solenoid S, energizing the said solenoid and throwing the signal 0 to its clear position and also closing the switch 71, thus leaving the signaloperating device ready to be again operated by the track lever-switch A. It will be readily seen that the switch t of the relay R (shown in dotted lines) of one block or section will remain closed until the said relay R becomes renergized by the operation of the relay R (shown in full lines) of the following section.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a form of track lever-switch which is operated by the flange of the car-wheel, while in Fig. 3 I have shown a similar switch operated by the tread of the car-wheel. In each of these figures 19 represents the plunger, which is normally maintained in the position shown by the spring it, but on being depressed operates, through the lever 17. and the plunger 19, to raise the switch m away from its fixed contacts. The switch m resumes is normal position by gravity. The switch m is protected from moisture and accident by being inclosed in the protecting-casing a.

In place of the lever connections to the switchi shown in Fig. 1 I may use the construction shown in Fig. 4, mounting the switch '1, on the lower end of the core of the solenoid s in such a manner that it will open the relay-circuit when the rod d is raised.

By using a system in which the electric circuits are normally closed it will be readily seen that any disarrangement of the said circuits would be immediately indicated by the signal dropping to its danger'position, which position it would hold until the fault had been remedied.

Although I have shown and described certain specific means for carrying out my invention, I do not intend to limit myself to such means, as many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a block-signal system, an electricallyoperated signal, a normally closed electrical circuit in which said signal is located, a switch in said circuit, a magnet controlling said switch, an independent normally closed electric circuit in which the actuating-coil of said magnet is located, and a switch in said magnet-circuit adapted to be engaged and operated by a passing train to open said magnetcircuit to cause said signal to move to danger position.

2. In a block-signal system, an electricallyoperated signal, an electrical circuit in which said signal is located, a relay for controlling said circuit, an independent normally closed electric circuit in which the actuating-winding of said relay is located, a switch operated by'a passing car for opening the relay-circuit, and an independent switch operatively connected with said signal for'maintaining said relay-circuit open.

3. In a block-signal system, an electricallyoperated signal, an electrical circuit in which said signal is located, a relay for controlling said circuit, an independent normally closed electrical circuit in which the actuating-coil of said relay is located, means operated by a passing car for momentarily opening the relay-circuit, a separate switch operatively connected with said signal for maintaining said relay-circuit open, and a switch independent of said switches for closing said relay-circuit. 4. In a block-signal system, an electricallyoperated signal, an electrical circuit in which said signal is l0cated,a relay for controllingsaid circuit, an independent normally closed electrical circuit in which the actuating-winding of said relay is located, a switch operated by a passing car for momentarily opening said relay-circuit, a separate switch operatively connected with said signal for maintaining said relay-circuit open, and an electromagnetically-operated switch for closing said relay-circuit.

5. In a block-signal system, an electricallyoperated signal, an electrical circuit in which said signal is located, a relay for controlling said circuit, an independent normally closed electrical circuit in which the actuating-winding of said relay is located, a switch operated by a passing car for momentarily opening said relay-circuit, a separate switch operatively connected with said signal for maintaining said relay-circuit open, an electromagnetically-operated switch for closing said relay-circuit, and independent means for controlling said electromagnetic switch.

6. In a block-signal system, an electricallyoperated signal, a normally closed electric circuit in which said signal is located, a relay for controlling said circuit, a normally closed independent electric circuit in which the actuating-winding of said relay is located, a switch operated by a passing car for m0- mentarily opening said relay-circuit, a separate switch operatively connected to said signal for maintaining said relay-circuit open after it has been opened by said first-mentioned switch, an electromagnetically-operated switch for closing said relay-circuit, and a switch operated by a passing car for controlling said electromagneticallyoperated switch.

7. In a block-signal system, a normally closed switch adapted to be engaged and opened momentarily by a passing car, a relay, the actuating-coil of which is in circuit with said switch, said relay controlling an electric circuit in which a signal is located, a second relay having its actuating-coil also in circuit with said switch, said second relay controlling means for actuating a second signal.

IIO

8. In a block-signal system, a track divided into blocks or sections, an electrically-operated signal for each section, a switch between two consecutive sections adapted to be engaged and operated by a passing car, means controlled by said switch for throwing thesignal of one section to its danger'position, and means controlled by the same switch for throwing another of said signals to its clear position.

9. In ablock-signal system, a track divided into blocks or sections, an electrically-operated signal for each section,a switch adapted to be engaged and operated by the car, an electric circuit in which said switch is connected, a relay in said circuit adapted to cause one of said signals to assume its danger position, and a second relay in said circuit adapted to cause another of said signals to assume its clear position.

10. In a block-signal system, a relay for controlling the operation of the signal in each block, the actuating-winding of the relay being included in circuit with a suitable source of current in a normally closed electric circuit, and means adapted to be operated by a passing car for opening said circuit and for causing the simultaneous closing of a corresponding circuit for the actuating-Winding of the relay controlling the signal in another block.

11. In a block-signal system, a relay for controlling the operation of the signal in each block, the actuating-winding of the relay being included in circuit with a suitable source of current in a normally closed electric circuit, means adapted to be operated by the passing of a car into the block for momentarily opening the circuit of the relay which controls the signal for that block, means adapted to maintain said circuit open when the signal is in the danger position, and means adapted to be operated by the passing of a car into a succeeding block for closing said circuit. a

12. In a block-signal system, a relay for controlling the operation of the signal in each block, the actuating-winding of the relay being included in circuit with a suitable source of current in a normally closed electric circuit, means adapted to be operated by the passing of a car into the block for momentarily opening the circuit of the relay which controls the signal for that block, a switch connected to beactuated to open said circuit when the signal is in the danger position, and means adapted to be operated by the passing of a car into a succeeding block for closing a shunt-circuit around said switch.

13. In a block-signal system, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of a signal device in each block, the winding of said electromagnet being included in circuit with a suitable source of current in a normally closed electric circuit, a switch adapted to be operated by a passing car for momentarily opening said circuit, a second switch arranged to be operated to maintain said circuit open when the signal is in the danger position, and a third switch adapted to be operated by a car passing into the next block in advance and momentarily closing a shunt circuit around the terminals of said second switch.

14. In a block-signal system, an electrically-operated signal, a normally closed electrical circuit in which said signal is located, a switch in said circuit, a magnet controlling said switch, an independent normally closed electric circuit in which the actuating-coil of said magnet is located, a switch in said magnet-circuit adapted to be engaged and operated by a passing train to open said magnetcircuit to cause said signal to move to danger position, and means for maintaining said magnet-circuit open until the train has reached a predetermined point.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of April, 1902.

HENRY N. SPORBORG.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

